Coastal Carolina University, in partnership with the LiveWell Office and the Women’s and Gender Studies program, is hosting its annual Sexual and Dating/Domestic Violence Awareness Week Oct. 4-6. Three outdoor events will be held to raise student awareness about sexual, dating, and domestic violence, as well as to educate students about resources that are available to them at CCU.

Chris Donevant-Haines, associate director of CCU’s LiveWell Office, said Sexual and Dating/Domestic Violence Awareness Week has been recognized on CCU’s campus since 2007. October is also National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Donevant-Haines said this week’s events are one way CCU recognizes survivors and highlights prevention efforts in the community.

The week’s goals include helping to break the stigma of discussing the sensitive topic of interpersonal violence, and showing support and building community empathy toward survivors of interpersonal violence.

“The events have varied throughout the years, and this year we wanted to be mindful of health safety, so we are opting to hold outdoor events,” she said. “We welcome all students, faculty, and staff to participate in all events during this week.”

The week will start off with a poster-making event on Monday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Prince Lawn (Rain location: Lib Jackson Student Union rotunda). Students can create posters and signs that they will be able to display at the Take Back the Night March and Rally Against Violence event, scheduled for Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Lib Jackson Student Union courtyard.

Take Back the Night gives students the opportunity to march across campus, joining in chants against violence and supporting survivors. The event also features a speak-out portion in which participants can share stories, messages of support, and statements against violence. Donevant-Haines said this year’s Take Back the Night will kick off with a student featured speaker. CCU’s Student Government Association is a partner on the event.

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Clothesline Project will take place on Prince Lawn. This is a national initiative that started in the 1990s where people put messages on T-shirts to create awareness about the various types of violence against women, men, and children, and display the shirts on a clothesline. Come out and create a T-shirt to display with messages against the various forms of interpersonal violence, along with messages supporting survivors.

In addition to those events, Women’s and Gender Studies is screening The Hunting Ground, a critically-acclaimed documentary about campus sexual assault, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Lib Jackson Student Union Coastal Theater. Admission is free.

The LiveWell Office promotes societal, community, relationship, and individual wellness, and provides resources to the campus community all year long.

“We provide campus-wide wellness initiatives, educational events and presentations, internship opportunities and services that promote well-being,” Donevant-Haines said. “We provide recovery resources and nutrition consultation as direct services, but also promote usage of other wellness resources on campus, such as Counseling Services, Student Health Services, University Recreation, and other wellness initiatives, such as the We Will campaign, which focuses on promoting resources and data related to COVID safety.”

For more information, contact Donevant-Haines at cdhaines@coastal.edu or 843-349-4031.